Systems and methods for prioritizing power flow between electrified vehicles and charging trailers

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for coordinating and controlling power flow during bidirectional energy transfer events between an electrified vehicle and one or more charging trailers. The systems and methods may prioritize energy transfers between each connected energy unit based on various parameters, including but not limited to battery prognostic information, driving habits/predicted behavior, user preferences, etc. Charge energy may be transferred to the appropriate energy unit using a semi-automated approach to meet customer needs with varying levels of priority according to an energy transfer prioritization control strategy that is derived from the various inputs that are considered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bidirectional energy transfer system, comprising:
 an electrified vehicle;   a charging trailer operably coupled to the electrified vehicle; and   a control module programmed to create an energy transfer prioritization control strategy for controlling a transfer of energy between the electrified vehicle and the charging trailer during an energy transfer event.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , comprising an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle operably coupled to the charging trailer. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the control module is further programmed to control a transfer of energy from at least one of the charging trailer or the electrified vehicle to the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle during the energy transfer event. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further programmed to interface with a bidirectional power transfer system of the electrified vehicle for controlling the transfer of the energy between the charging trailer and the electrified vehicle according to the energy transfer prioritization control strategy during the energy transfer event. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control module is a component of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control module is a component of a cloud-based server system. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy includes a first priority ranking score assigned to a traction battery pack of the electrified vehicle and a second priority ranking score assigned to an energy storage system of the charging trailer. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy includes a third priority ranking score assigned to either a second charging trailer or an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably coupled to the charging trailer. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on battery prognostic information associated with a traction battery pack of the electrified vehicle and an energy storage system of the charging trailer. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is further derived based on environmental information and/or itinerary/calendar information associated with a user of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . An electrified vehicle, comprising:
 a traction battery pack; and   a control module programmed to create an energy transfer prioritization control strategy for controlling a transfer of energy from the traction battery pack to a separate energy unit or from the separate energy unit to the traction battery pack during an energy transfer event.   
     
     
         12 . The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy includes a priority ranking score assigned to the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         13 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on battery prognostic information associated with the traction battery pack. 
     
     
         14 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on real-time prognostic information associated with the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on itinerary/calendar information associated with a user of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on a real-time weather condition. 
     
     
         17 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on a real-time traffic condition. 
     
     
         18 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energy transfer prioritization control strategy is derived based on user preference information that is pre-selected by a user of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the control module is further programmed to transmit a charge priority report to a user of the electrified vehicle in anticipation of the energy transfer event. 
     
     
         20 . The electrified vehicle system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the control module is further programmed to receive an input from the user indicating a modification to the charge priority report.